Live by the Spirit (4) Asking

This weeks focus is on "Asking the Holy Spirit what he wants you to do today, sometimes it is only one thing - the Spirit rarely overwhelms us with demands"

It seems novel doesn't it? To Live by the Spirit you listen to it. So why do I find it hard to say to God - “send your Holy Spirit” or “Speak Lord your servant is listening?”

But remember "To be controlled by human nature results in death; to be controlled by the Spirit results in life and peace." Romans 8.6

Perhaps the answer is in conquering our human nature. Again I would say this is not about turning our lives into a joyless dry landscape. The fruits of the Spirit are love, peace and joy. So it stands to reason that when we live more by the Spirit we have more and more of these things in our life. But in order to get to that stage we need to take instructions "to develop a listening ear" for the sweet sound of the Lord's voice on our life saying "this is the way walk in it." With the London 2012 Olympics playing out on our TV screens at present it is easy to draw the comparison to the training of athletes. Listening to an interview yesterday I heard described the training regime of a medal winner in swimming. In order to win you need to get in the water daily.... I would say to you "wade in the Spirit's water daily."

So in your prayer time pause and let the Spirits voice find it's way to you in the peace. Give up the idea that the dialogue with God can happen in a five minute slot that you assign to him first thing in the morning before you brush your teeth! Our God is a very demanding lover and wants more of you than that. What you need to do is give in! Let him have a say in your life - no longer block him out. To block out is from your human nature and is a way of holding God at arm's length so that he cannot influence you with his contagious loving kindness.

Of course we need to discern the Spirit's voice when we hear it. But if it is saying things that ask you to be loving, compassionate, or a builder of relationships then you must be hearing the voice of our God who saves. The one who builds and never diminishes us. The Spirit will never ask us to break or destroy, that voice is the deceiver's voice and the deceiver wants the opposite of what God wants.

You might say how will I know if I get it right? The answer is in the doing. If God tells you to phone a friend and listen to them for half an hour. If you obey and get it wrong God will still honour the fact that you obeyed.

I had the honour of meeting a sweet Benedictine monk once. His name was Fr Ian Petit and he was one of the pioneers of the Charismatic Renewal in the Catholic Church. He was such a kind man. He was fond of reminding us that the scripture doesn't say  "listen Lord your servant is speaking" it says "speak Lord your servant is listening."

We need to dare to believe that God has a purpose and a plan for our lives. That he wants more of us than what we currently give. That he will bless us when we take steps in faith. We need to dare to believe in the loving kindness of "the heart of our God" and let it influence our actions. You can do no wrong by trying to bless another person's life if you do it with kindness and grace.

We are all fellow pilgrims on a journey into the heart of God. I pray that I can remember that. Pilgrims share the good things that they have with others on the journey and don't hide their bread from one another.

Dear Lord, let me listen to your voice. Send again your Holy Spirit to my life, renewing it and refreshing it. Let me be gentle. Amen

Thoughts about Iona,

This little island has had a significant impact on Christianity for two main reasons.

First it is where St Columba's landed in AD 563, bringing with him Christianity to the Scottish people.

Secondly it is the spiritual home of the Wildgoose Community. A community that has been blessing for many people since it was founded 1938.

It was like a pilgrimage for us, rising early on the Friday and heading off to be sure to get the 7am flight to Glasgow. Then by car and ferry and many birding stops to Mull and beyond to the tiny island of Iona. On the way we saw the awesome beauty of God's creation, including Otters swimming, an Osprey flying and a Buzzard perched so that we could see him clearly in all his finery through our telescope. Creation too is God's message to us about the Father's love for variety and beauty.

At our first prayer stop, pictured below, we had a reading etc from a book we had brought with us.
My heart was struck by these words, that seemed to be there to prepare my heart for marriage "It is possible to travel alone. But the good traveller knows that the journey is human life and needs company. 'companion' means.. The one who eats the same bread." Debs of course is my companion, friend and lover! All these things are necessary for marriage to work, with the grace of God's Holy Spirit too in generous measure.

And from Jeremiah we learnt about our new heart:
"This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time," declares the Lord. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbour, or say to one another, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the Lord. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." Jeremiah 31:33-34 NIV

The House of Prayer we stayed in was a beautiful welcoming home thanks to Sister Jean. And for two days we became family with the other visitors. Two lovely American women Pat and Marie and two Norweigan Dominican monks Haavar and Arnfinn. Eating breakfast and dinner together. Talking, sharing and with good humour together.

At this meeting at the crossroads was an interesting mix of Christian people, proving that there is fellowship across the divides. We can be one...just as Jesus asks.

This will be a long blog if I tell you everything. So let's just today think about kindness...

I have mentioned in previous blogs "the loving kindness which is the heart of our God ".... Well read here what our brother friar Haavar had to say about it in his sermon linked here.

On the descent into Columba's Bay we experienced the unexpected kindness of a stranger - who appeared from nowhere and offered to take a picture of the three amigos. We exchanged brief friendly words and the information that we were on a rather eccentric Bucks's weekend involving prayer and birding. She seemed shy but did say what she was doing. She then went on ahead stopped in her tracks and came back. She said that she wanted to give me and Debs two green stones known as Columba's Tears - she did this and then hurried on her way. Needless to say I thanked her for her kindness. I was quite touched - the unexpected kindness of strangers does indeed reach the heart very quickly.

So for me the predominant theme of the weekend was that God was telling me that he wants me to learn his kindness. To not be afraid to accept it from others, but also to be more consistent in my attempts to show it to other people. Especially whilst in London - that busy place - oh God let me help the traveller and to see them through your eyes. And thank you for the humour and patience that John and Chris shared with me.

We are but fallible people like clay pots! "We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." That is, if our intentions are good God will cover our weakness.

Dear God, please help me to be more consistent in the practice of kindness and help me to recognise need in others and do what I am able to help them.